Non-fulfilment of Scholarship Bonds by Foreign Students Graduating from NUS and NTU

36 Mr Ang Wei Neng asked the Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) (a) in the past 10 years, how many foreign students did not complete their scholarship bonds after graduating from NUS and NTU; (b) how do the two universities follow up on the scholars who fail to serve their bonds; and (c) how much damages have not been collected due to non-fulfilment of scholarship bonds.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: The proportion of defaulters is about 1%. We are also in the process of contacting another 4% to determine their bond service status. The rest – 95% – are serving their bonds, have applied for deferment or are unable to serve their bonds due to reasons like illnesses.

As part of the enforcement process, scholars who are identified to be not serving their bond will be contacted and reminded by the universities of their obligations. Some may get back to the universities and inform that they are in between jobs and need more time. For scholars who continue to not serve their bond obligations, the universities will then proceed to recover liquidated damages from the scholars and their sureties, failing which, defaulters will not be able to work or reside in Singapore.

The Ministry of Education will continue to work closely with all the universities to tighten and enhance the processes in monitoring and enforcing the scholarship bonds.